Show your potential

It’s always strange to think how a small, apparently harmless, decision can totally change your life. This is one of those thoughts which always come to my mind every morning while opening my macbook and browsing through comments, emails and new posts of my blog.American Express contacted me some weeks ago, asking me If I wanted to share my experience as a “potentialist”. What does this mean? Potentialists are those people who made a change in their lives, or those who made their hobbies and passions become their job, concept which is connected with American Express claim “Show your potential”.
How did I become a “potentialist”? It was a mix between initiative, right time, will to express myself and luck, which is always an important part.
It all started on 12th October 2009, with this simple post: after spending a couple of years on Flickr I felt the need to open a web space which was totally mine, The Blonde Salad.
I would have never thought this blog could give me this much and that It could become a real job, but indeed It is.
In Italy there were only a few personal style blogs before mine and the fact I was one of the first ones to start one naturally helped me getting noticed in a short time. After 4 months since I opened the blog (which already was updated almost everyday) the first job proposal arrived, from Benetton.
Then It was the time of the press boom: during February 2010 Milan fashionweek everybody was talking about the fashion blogger phenomenon, which was unknown in Italy until then. There were articles about fashion bloggers and about my blog on all the national newspapers, I was interviewed for the Italian news and I was a guest with Mischa Barton at Chiambretti Night. Just after that another important proposal arrived, from the italian weekly magazine A, in which I still write in the fashion section.
Visits on my blog immediately reached 30 000 a day from the previous 15 000 a day and then kept growing: now The Blonde Salad collects around 110 000 visits each day, for a total of 8.5 million pageviews each month and around 730 000 unique visitors each month from 180 different countries.
From March 2010 the big interest towards fashion bloggers started also in Italy: I got offered a lot of different jobs, but I declined most of them because they were not the right ones for me. At the beginning deciding was so difficult: the first times you are offered a lot of money saying no is really hard, but I’ve always thought the best idea was to only do what I felt like the right thing for me. I’ve always chosen collaborations with brands I love and that I find similar to my taste: I would never wear something I don’t like on the blog. All my collaborations and jobs are declared: the blog became in these years a real job for me, and I’ve never hidden it to my followers, It’s one of my biggest satisfactions.
From April/March 2010 I started working on one of my biggest adventures since I opened the blog: my personal shoeline, Chiara Ferragni, entirely Made In Italy: the first collection came out in September 2010 and now the 4th collection is in about 70 stores around Europe, and the line grows every season.
From that moment so many collaborations, projects and travels arrived: I always try to keep an updated list of my experiences in the ABOUT section of the blog.
In 2011 TBS crew, The Blonde Salad team, was born: Richi, Claire, Angelo and Tommy work with me as a team. I’m the only editor of the blog and I’m the only one using all the social networks, but I could never do all these things I do If It wasn’t for them 🙂
Everyday I’m grateful to my followers for everything that happened to me in these 2.5 years: It’s unbelievable to think how my life could be now if, that 12th October 2009, I didn’t decide to start this adventure, and If I didn’t believe It all could be possible.
I thought about some short life tips that I learnt from beautiful people and from important experiences in these years, hoping that they might help you as well in your everyday life.

1. Listen to your heart to find your real hobbies and dreams
2. Work hard to make them happen

I’ve always been interested in fashion, passion I Inherited from my mum, but I never thought It could become my job. When I had to choose about my future and about my university decision I opted for international law (that I hope to finish soon, I have my last and horrible exams to try) instead of thinking about something which had more in common with my passions. I anyway tried to grow my interests in fashion in these years, trying to express myself as much as I could: the web has always been the right place for me.
I remember when I used to receive the first negative comments on my Flickr profile, where lot of people were writing me “what do you think you’re doing taking photos at your outfits?”. Now, after all these experiences, I understood what I was thinking to do shooting my looks and sharing them 🙂
Follow your instinct.

Everything you do, try to do it as best as you can. We all make mistakes, and I can’t even count how many I make everyday: don’t let the fear of failure prevent you from realizing a dream. Keep in count hundreds of mistake, and be sure you’ll need them as well.

I noticed something: every time I’m nervous or angry about something I don’t handle the situations at my best. In the days in which I’m in a positive attitude everything seems better. Positive vibes don’t only influence us, but also influence all the people around us.
Each of us has something to teach: in these past years I understood I can learn at least one new thing everyday, simply listening everything that surrounds me.

Friends, family and your partner can help you in those moments in which you need support or in which you have to make a tough decision. Don’t do everything by yourself, listen to the advice of people who only want the best for you.
Always believe in yourself, don’t let anyone put you down: we only have one life and It’s too short to be influenced by other people.

Having a job you like is, for “potentialist” research by American Express, one of the main pointers of life quality, just after having the chance to spend time with your family. Do you agree or do you think there might be something else at second place?
I hope I was able to steal a smile from your face with this post. You’re one of my main strenght and I thought It was the right time to try to give you some more energy back as well.
If you need any advice I’m here.
Show your potential, everyday.

[…] for success needs to shine like the sun and be so strong that any darkness disappears. And like Chiara said we all make mistakes and so does she. If someone as successful and inspiring as she is can […]

Hello Chiara. I really love your blog! Get me linked frequently! Your personality and adaptation to every situation is incredible! With reference to this article, I want to invite you seeing my blog and tell me what could I do for improving it! Thanks 4 your attention! Cristina.
Blog: fleurdivoire.wordpress.com

Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective.
A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between usability and appearance. I must say that you’ve done a amazing job
with this. Also, the blog loads very quick for me on Firefox.

Nicole

27 Jan 2013

I so happy that I finally found a beauty guru- fashion blogger- model that try to show people how they became famous or model. Most of the beauty gurus or models that have a blog don’t want to show everyone who follows them how they became what most of these day’s girls want to be – models. It’s so nice and hopeful for all these girls! I’m sure that I not the only person who would like to start blogging about their passions and you’re the only person who made me think more seriously about that. You also made something more for everyone : you showed people “How to show their potential” ! Thank you again.

Enjoye reading your honest story! Yes. you may have luck and are also beautiful BUT it can be seen that you always work hard and are writing your own posts. Even though your writing is not perfect in English, it is very “real”. Also, reminding us that we must let friends or our partner help us is an important reminder for myself.

I enjoy your energy and am working on following my passion as well. I might be spending time in Milan 🙂

I believe everything said made a lot of sense. But, think
about this, what if you added a little content? I ain’t suggesting your information isn’t good.
, but what if you added something that grabbed people’s attention? I mean Show your potential | The Blonde Salad is a little vanilla. You could glance at Yahoo’s
front page and note how they write news headlines to grab viewers interested.

You might try adding a video or a related pic or two to get people interested about everything’ve written. In my opinion, it could make your blog a little livelier.

Wow, you are really talented. You have really inspired me to just try to succeed. If I don't try I will never know, how it could've been. Thank you for making this post, you made a teenager in Norway smile, and you gave her courage. Thank you.

Anonymous

14 Jun 2012

Nice story, Chiara! After following your blog for …somewhat over 2 years now I guess, I've always been so happy for you (and a bit jealous, too :)) to see how a genuine and talented enthusiastic like you can really succeed by simply doing what feels best.

So keep on doing what you do: despite all the rapid success you've gained, you still seem to be your own happy, excited & life-loving self!

One wish I have, though: I think you should really consider moving this blog into a better publishing format (of whatever the right technical term is). The blog seems very heavy to use. …And maybe also "refresh" The Bonde Salad logo a bit, too 🙂However, keep on doing what you've done this far with the content itseld, your blog is one of my favourites!

Such an inspiring post, I am so happy for you! It's amazing to see a real life blog come this far. I feel like I can relate to this post a lot, I'm currently at University studying Psychology but I've always had a stronger passion for creating art.

Thank you for sharing this. It's so inspiring and motivating to read and watch your daily blogposts: You've been my first inspiration of all the fashion bloggers because your looks were always looking real and not about just wearing every trend. The fact that only your friends help you doing all this makes it even more unbelievable and amazing. You are also my motivation to keep on, not having let put me down by bad comments like I have no sense for fashion or I don't deserve going to fashion events or just people telling I'm looking not pretty – thanks for being a rolemodel and helping me (and I think many others) to keep on living my dream.

a great post ! congratulation to you to have been became such a transparent person. you have made everything so clear for other people that want to follow your dream. The pictures are amazing as the slogan that are written on the shit of paper. Really a good job !

Thanks for your words Chiara, they are very positive ! I discovered your blog on Fashiolista some months ago and have been folowing you since then. I am building a blog/site for image consulting and love to read your posts for inspiration. Thank you for inspiring us not to let our dreams dye!!! Love Diana P

Anonymous

All I could say whilst reading this blog is WOW. Your story has made me all that more determined to continue doing what I love doing regardless of what people think. You really are extremely inspirational to me. Thank you for the article it was lovely to read 🙂 x

Bianca B

25 May 2012

Chiara, I am so happy to visit your blog today out of all days. I really needed some inspiration and this is perhaps the best post I have encountered from you. 🙂 Now I have motivation to tackle the day and make my dreams a reality! Thank you for taking the time to make this post and I hope others will not only be inspired, but take action as well, exactly like you have.

This is very meaningful, this post actually gave me quite a lot of motivation for blogging. You give me inspiration all the time and you're a successful blogger who I adore very much. Keep updating the blog, forget about nasty comments and you know u have readers who support u!!

Bautiful post Chiara!!!!! Be sure it touched lots of people including me 🙂 I'm on my third year of Internacional Relations's college in Brazil and I just found myself in a tough decision making situation on my own…IR or follow my heart and hop to fashion? ahhh after a lot of thinking and lots of talking to my beloved ones I decided to hop to my passion, I'm going to graduate on IR but I'm going to get back to my initial dream at the same time, my modelling career 🙂 we must follow our instinct/hearts to be not only successful but also happy and complete in our lives. It doesn't worth to sacrifice ours dreams because we're afraid of trying, we got to find some courage to make it happen!!! haha it worths and it's a must 🙂

I've followed your blog for many months but have never left a comment (pretty much because you intimidate me with your coolness :}). I love reading your posts everyday and vicariously living through you as you jet set around the world. You're so inspirational, intuitive, gorgeous and your closet is killer. Keep it up girl, you're doing an amazing thing.

This is such an encouraging message. Thank you for valuing me as your follower. I respect you for who you are and the achievement you have made. I believe your journey has been challenging but you handle it well. I wish you the best and continue the great work you have put into The Blonde Salad =)

You are so lovely Chiara! I remember when I discovered your blog it had no more than 30 posts and I loved that beautiful girl, with a hot boyfriends and gorgeous clothes! And you grew into such a successful blogger, an inspiring woman and your style has developed too, it's more mature, more elegant or more dearing. Oh I love you for your personality most as you are very honest, funny, devoted, creative and friendly, you deserved your success as we all get what we deserve! And it' great that your friends and your family help you and that you have introduced them to us on your blog. I save so many looks on my computer and when I need soem inspiration I look through the photos and always know what I want to wear after looking at you! My hugs and kisses to you beautiful Chiara, continue doind what you are doing, you bring so much happiness to all of us <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

u r such a great person, very open minded! I adore this post, it is so helpful for all of us, who you are a role model to! I love when famous bloggers share their opinions and their stories, so we can learn from the best! U should do more of posts like that. Thank you and wish you all the best! xx K

the best post ever, now I'm waiting a few days to go to Paris and show a program of myself and I was looking for something inspirational and I think I found it, thanks for doing this post! It means a lot to me!

Wow, thank you for this post an your story. Can you tell us how you make your wonderful pictures? Maybe like a hox to do storyboard? Or can you explain if you use photoshop, lightroom or another programm?You are so fabulous, Greetings, Scrapbella …the suitable gidt idea!http://www.scrapbella.comd

this post is just amazing! you've totally made me smile fot the rest of the day 🙂 You are so right in every point of the post. Self-confidence is really important in life and you made me to be more like this. You are my big, if not the biggest, inspiration and I just want to say Thank you!

It's the first time I write in your blog althougt I have look it for long time ago.It is really admirable. Congratulations for you constance work.This last year I have forgot myself and what I want to do with my life..Your new post have helped me a lot. Thank you sinceryly

griselcastro70@gmail.com

27 May 2012

hi, iam grisel, its the first time I write to you but i absolutely your fan your stile is so great I love your stile, sorry because my english its not good, but I will try to do the best possible as i can good look

I admit that I hardly read your blog, but today I decided to chance a look, and was the best decision the day I had, because I was seriously thinking I quit college fashion, and now I feel I am able to move on, I loved this post

Thank you Chiara for inspiring all of us! You seem like a genuinely amazing person who can promote the right values to us, more than any other celebrity or famous person. Keep doing what you love and giving us inspiration to do the same!!

Anonymous

30 May 2012

One of the most beautiful things in the world is to see people's dreams coming true. I'm so happy for you Chiara, because truthfully, you're a real inspiration for people that like me aim to turn their dreams into reality. You indeed deserve all that's been happening to you and I whish you all the best 🙂

Chiara, I have been following your blog for quite sometime while living out here in Malaysia. I'm originally from the U.S. and found your blog one day while surfing the internet for fashion blogs. As I do have a blog of my own, Wrinkled Chiffon, I pour my heart, soul and energy into it everyday! I hope to someday be half as inspirational and well recognized as yourself, but for now, I am just following along in your rules of life and leaving each day to the fullest along with smiling and staying positive. Thankfully I have been so lucky in my life to have lived in SE Asia and have traveled to some amazing places…such as Phuket for my birthday, which you just visited. Soon our adventure will end and we will be back in the States, but I will continue with Wrinkled Chiffon and of course continue following along in your adventures. Today is my 1 year anniversary/birthday of my post and I hope to have many more. Thanks for the great post, your encouragement and kind rules of life! Love them! Have a great day and I hope someday you can stop by Wrinkled Chiffon and say hello or maybe even see my looks on Chicisimo! Have a great Wednesday!

This post has been the greatest thing Ive ever read. Seriously thank you soo much Chiara! Im studying business right now, but Fashion, and singing, and exercising have always been my true passions. And now I know I can do them all, have my own blog soon, become an instructor, and start singing and see what happens! If you could please give me tips on how to start my blog (and have time) heres my email–> rossigeo_12@hotmail.com

Wow, I haven't had time to read this post until now! And I knew it would be awesome!Really inspiring 🙂I need this kind of inspiration from time to time and now was the moment 🙂Thanks for one of your best posts ever!